The invention relates to a method for the ozonolysis of unsaturated fatty acids and derivatives thereof, comprising a) ozonolysis of a fatty acid or of a derivative thereof in an organic phase comprising an organic solvent, and b) contacting the organic phase with an aqueous phase comprising catalase and preferably a buffer, where the fatty acid or the derivative thereof has a linear chain having at least eight carbon atoms, and the use of catalase for removing reactive oxygen species from a reaction mixture comprising ozonolysis products of an unsaturated fatty acid.